Discuss Full coverage · 8 →
C CNBC· 2h

Amazon's Astro home robot has fans but looks destined for the 'trash heap.' Why it's trying again

Amazon has formed a new home robotics team and is hiring for a “new-to-world robot product,” according to CNBC’s analysis of job posts.

Analysis

8 developments from 8 outlets in the past week.

8 stories 8 outlets
Reported by several outlets

Forecast

What will the seasonally adjusted U.S. unemployment rate be for January 2027, as first reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics?
4.2% to 4.5% 48%
4.1% or lower 30%
4.6% or higher 23%

Poll

What worries you more about the job market?

Forecast poll

Will the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report a national unemployment rate of 4.5% or higher in a jobs report released by 2025-12-31?

Forecast · closes Jan 16
Readers say yes –
70%

Reader odds appear once enough people forecast · resolves automatically from reported evidence.

Discuss Full coverage · 20 →
T The Guardian· 2h

The political playbook that unraveled US transgender rights in the past decade

From the military to healthcare, Trump systematically dismantled Obama-era protections for transgender rightsShelby Chestnut remembers turning on the news in 2016 and hearing something he didn’t expect. Then- attorney general, Loretta Lynch, had just announced a federal lawsuit to block HB2 in North Carolina, otherwise

Analysis

12 developments from 12 outlets in the past week.

12 stories 12 outlets
Reported by several outlets

Forecast

Will the United States federal government implement new restrictions on Medicare drug price negotiations or expand exemptions for drugmakers by March 31, 2027?
Status quo or expanded negotiations 61%
Expanded exemptions or restricted negotiations 39%

Poll

Have you delayed care in the past year because of cost?

Forecast poll

Will federal courts permanently strike down Medicaid work requirement rules by the end of the year?

Forecast · closes Jan 30
Readers say yes –
70%

Reader odds appear once enough people forecast · resolves automatically from reported evidence.

Discuss Full coverage · 14 →
T The Guardian· 2h

1-0 to humankind? US midterms vote puts AI, datacentres and the broligarchy back in their box | Heather Stewart

Election results appear to have turbo-charged an already growing social, political and financial market rethink about AI‘AI clog’: UK battles onslaught of chatbot-generated complaintsEditorial: the AI backlash – Silicon Valley’s political power is crackingLast week’s midterms may not have cowed Donald Trump, but they s

Analysis

Recent developments highlight a growing tension between AI's rapid expansion and its societal costs, ranging from market volatility and cybersecurity vulnerabilities to public backlash against the environmental impact of data centers. These events underscore the increasing scrutiny of AI's influence on national security, political discourse, and personal safety, as governments and communities push for greater oversight. Moving forward, observers are tracking how international regulatory efforts, investment restrictions, and local opposition to infrastructure projects will shape the future of the AI industry.

12 stories 12 outlets
Reported by several outlets

Forecast

Will the United States or the European Union implement new restrictions on the export or use of Chinese-developed AI models by March 31, 2027?
New restrictions implemented 58%
No new restrictions 42%

Poll

Should AI-generated images and video be required to carry a label?

Forecast poll

Will the EU pass new legislation specifically regulating the use of copyrighted books for AI training by December 31, 2024?

Forecast · closes Jan 14
Readers say yes –
70%

Reader odds appear once enough people forecast · resolves automatically from reported evidence.

Discuss Full coverage · 9 →
P PBS· 2h

Floods bring rare relief to U.S. Southwest reservoirs as Lake Powell rises 20 feet

Storms in late October and early November sent torrents of water through normally small or dry creeks that overflowed their banks and flooded local communities.

Analysis

Recent reports highlight a surge in extreme weather events, including devastating wildfires in Indonesia, deadly storms in the UK, and typhoons in Taiwan, which are disrupting daily life through school closures, power outages, and travel delays. These events coincide with scientific warnings that 96% of coral reefs face collapse and that global health is increasingly threatened by climate-linked heat and drought. Observers are now monitoring the potential for further policy shifts regarding environmental regulations and the ongoing global efforts to address rising emissions and temperature limits.

9 stories 9 outlets
Reported by several outlets

Forecast

Where will 2026 rank among the warmest years on record for global average surface temperature, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), as reported by January 31, 2027?
Second warmest on record 41%
Third warmest or lower 39%
Warmest year on record 20%

Poll

Who should pay most for climate damage?

Poll

Would you accept higher energy bills to cut emissions faster?

Discuss Full coverage · 5 →
C CNBC· 2h

How Democrats will try to end Trump's tariffs

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who is likely the next House speaker, has made clear that ending President Trump's tariffs is one of Democrats' top priorities.

Analysis

The Trump administration is adjusting its 50% tariffs on Canadian goods by exempting some products while replacing others, prompting a new legal challenge and criticism from Canadian officials regarding increased costs for families. These trade tensions are impacting various sectors, with companies like Audi announcing new U.S. manufacturing plants to mitigate tariff exposure and steel producers in other regions reporting collateral damage. Observers are now watching for the outcome of the lawsuit against the administration's use of the Tariff Act and how ongoing diplomatic talks with nations like India and the EU will shape future trade agreements.

5 stories 5 outlets
Reported by several outlets

Forecast

Will the United States government implement or maintain a tariff of 25% or higher on all imports from Canada as of February 1, 2027?
Tariff below 25% or none 61%
Tariff of 25% or more active 39%

Poll

Do tariffs on imports help or hurt your country overall?

Poll

Which should trade policy protect first?